The Central government claims that it does not have data regarding the death of farmers during the protest movement that has been ongoing for over a year. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said that “when there is no data, the question of compensation does not arise”. The government had answered along the same lines during the last Parliament sesison when asked about the number of COVID deaths and compensation due to those affected.

He was responding to a question in Parliament on the deaths of farmers during the protest movement, during which he said “the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare does not have ay records on this matter and therefore the question of compensation does not arise”.

On the other hand, the SKM (Samyukta Kisan Morcha) has claimed that 700 farmers have died during the protest in a letter to the Prime Minister. Go News had reported earlier that 670 farmers had died during these protests due to various reasons, with 40 being suicides, based on information shared by the SKM on social media.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has termed this dismissal as an “insult” to farmers.

This is farmers' insult. More than 700 farmers lost their lives during protests against 3 farm laws. How can Centre say that they don't have any record of it?: Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge pic.twitter.com/zs9bVGdbfP

— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2021